• The Conduct Leading to Buddhahood Cariyāpiį¹­aka
  • The Chapter With YudhaƱjaya YudhaƱjayavagga
  • The Perfection of Truth (4th) SaccapāramÄ« 4

The Fish King’s Conduct Maccharājacariya

ā€œThen again when I was ā€œPunāparaṁ yadā homi, a fish king in a great lake, maccharājā mahāsare; in the heat of the sun Uṇhe sÅ«riyasantāpe, the water in the lake evaporated. sare udaka khÄ«yatha.

Then crows and vultures, Tato kākā ca gijjhā ca, herons, hawks, and falcons, kaį¹…kā kulalasenakā; perched near the fish Bhakkhayanti divārattiṁ, and devoured them day and night. macche upanisÄ«diya.

There I had the following thought, Evaṁ cintesahaṁ tattha, being harassed with my relatives: saha ƱātÄ«hi pīḷito; ā€˜By what means ā€˜Kena nu kho upāyena, can I free my relatives from this suffering?’ ƱātÄ« dukkhā pamocaye’.

Considering the value of the Dhamma, Vicintayitvā dhammatthaṁ, I saw the truth as a support. saccaṁ addasa passayaṁ; Standing in the truth, Sacce ṭhatvā pamocesiṁ, I freed my relatives from that holocaust. ñātīnaṁ taṁ atikkhayaṁ.

Recollecting the true Dhamma, Anussaritvā sataṁ dhammaṁ, considered the ultimate goal, paramatthaṁ vicintayaṁ; I made a declaration of truth Akāsiṁ saccakiriyaṁ, that would last eternally in the world. yaṁ loke dhuvasassataṁ.

ā€˜So long as I can recall myself, ā€˜Yato sarāmi attānaṁ, since I became aware, yato pattosmi viƱƱutaṁ; I do not recall deliberately Nābhijānāmi saƱcicca, harming even a single living creature. ekapāṇampi hiṁsitaṁ.

By this declaration of truth, Etena saccavajjena, may Pajjuna rain down! pajjunno abhivassatu; Thunder forth, Pajjuna! Abhitthanaya pajjunna, Disperse the trove of the crow! nidhiṁ kākassa nāsaya; Subject the crow to sorrow, Kākaṁ sokāya randhehi, and free the fish from sorrow!’ macche sokā pamocaya’.

As this excellent truth was declared, Saha kate saccavare, Pajjuna thundered forth. pajjunno abhigajjiya; In an instant the rain poured down, Thalaṁ ninnaƱca pÅ«rento, soaking the uplands and valleys. khaṇena abhivassatha.

Having made such supreme effort EvarÅ«paṁ saccavaraṁ, for this excellent truth, katvā vÄ«riyamuttamaṁ; I made the great cloud pour down, Vassāpesiṁ mahāmeghaṁ, relying on the force of the power of truth. saccatejabalassito; There is no-one to equal my truthfulness: Saccena me samo natthi, this is my perfection of truth.ā€ esā me saccapāramÄ«ā€ti.